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Idaho Statutes
Idaho Statutes are updated to the website July 1 following the legislative session.
JURIES AND JURORS
CHAPTER 2
JURY SELECTION AND SERVICE
2-208. Names randomly drawn from county jury list — Qualification questionnaire forms for prospective jurors — Mailing and return — Order to appear — Criminal contempt — Penalty for misrepresentation. (1) The court or any other state or county official having authority to conduct a trial or hearing with a jury within the county may direct the jury commission to draw and assign to that court or official the number of qualified jurors deemed necessary for one (1) or more jury panels or as required by law for a grand jury. Upon receipt of the direction and in a manner prescribed by the court, the jury commission shall publicly draw at random, by use of a manual, mechanical, or automated system, from the county jury list the number of prospective jurors specified. Neither the names drawn nor the list shall be disclosed to any person except upon specific order of the presiding judge.
(2) Each person on the prospective jury panel shall be served with a summons, issued by the clerk of the court or the jury commissioner. The summons shall be served either personally, or by regular mail or certified mail, addressed to the prospective juror at that person’s usual residence, business or post office address.
(3) The clerk or the jury commissioner shall mail a qualification questionnaire form, accompanied by instructions, addressed to the prospective jurors at their usual residence, business or post office address. The qualification questionnaire form may be sent together with the summons in a single mailing to a prospective juror. The qualification questionnaire form shall be in a form prescribed by the supreme court. The qualification questionnaire form must be completed and returned to the clerk or the jury commissioner within ten (10) days from the date of mailing. The qualification questionnaire form shall elicit the name, address of residence, and age of the prospective juror and whether the prospective juror: (a) is a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of the county; (b) is able to read, speak and understand the English language; (c) has any disability impairing his capacity to render satisfactory jury service; and (d) has lost the right to serve on a jury because of a felony criminal conviction as provided by section 3, article VI, of the constitution of the state of Idaho, and who has not been restored to the rights of citizenship pursuant to section 18-310, Idaho Code, or other applicable law. The qualification questionnaire form shall contain the prospective juror’s declaration that his responses are true to the best of his knowledge and his acknowledgment that a willful misrepresentation of a material fact may be punished as a misdemeanor. Notarization of the completed qualification questionnaire form shall not be required. If the prospective juror is unable to complete the form, another person may do so on his or her behalf and shall indicate that such person has done so and the reason therefor. If it appears there is an omission, ambiguity, or error in a returned form, the clerk or the jury commissioner shall again send the form with instructions to the prospective juror to make the necessary addition, clarification, or correction and to return the form to the jury commission within ten (10) days after its second mailing.
(4) Any prospective juror who fails to return a completed qualification questionnaire form as instructed shall be directed by the jury commission to appear forthwith before the clerk or the jury commissioner to complete the qualification questionnaire form. At the time of his appearance for jury service, or at the time of interview before the court, clerk, or the jury commissioner, any prospective juror may be required to complete another qualification questionnaire form in the presence of the court, clerk, or the jury commissioner, at which time the prospective juror may be questioned, but only with regard to his responses to questions contained on the form and grounds for his excuse or disqualification. Any information thus acquired by the court, clerk, or the jury commissioner shall be noted on the qualification questionnaire form.
(5) A prospective juror who fails to appear as directed by the commission, pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, shall be ordered by the court to appear and show cause for his failure to appear as directed. A prospective juror who fails to appear pursuant to the court’s order may be subject to contempt proceedings under chapter 6, title 7, Idaho Code, and applicable rules of the supreme court, and the prospective juror’s service may be postponed to a new prospective jury panel as set by the presiding judge.
(6) Any person who willfully misrepresents a material fact on a qualification questionnaire form for the purpose of avoiding or securing service as a juror is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(7) The contents of the juror qualification questionnaire form shall be confidential to the extent provided by rules of the Idaho supreme court.
(8) The clerk or the jury commissioner may provide an opportunity to a prospective juror to complete and return the qualification questionnaire form through electronic mail, facsimile transmission, or other reliable means of communication prior to mailing the qualification questionnaire form to the prospective juror. If the prospective juror completes and returns the qualification questionnaire form in such manner, the qualification questionnaire form need not be mailed to the prospective juror.
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